Friend wants to reach out to fickle woman

DEAR HARRIETTE: I went to an event and saw a lot of people I haven’t seen for a long time. One woman was very friendly, which was nice, but caught me off guard. She is what my mother calls “sometime-y.” Sometimes she knows me, and sometimes she doesn’t. On that day she saw me and thought she would even give me a hug. She is an important person in my social and professional circles, so I appreciated the acknowledgment, but I don’t want to make the mistake of thinking she likes me now — there have been too many occasions when I was invisible to her. I do think it might be wise for me to make some kind of meaningful follow-up while I’m still on her mind. I don’t have a project right now to talk about, though, so I’m not sure what to say if I reach out to her. What do you think?

Vacationing in a tourist town

My husband, Peter, and I are staying in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, which is, according to a lot of folks, a tourist town. Sometimes, the person saying this means it is not a place they would want to spend time. This puzzles me.

Oklahoma Youth Expo is yearly treat

Ilook forward to the Oklahoma Youth Expo each year and especially legislative showmanship. This year, I was paired with Grace Clark from Carnegie FFA and her sheep. Another one of my constituents, Tabrey Lierle from Hydro-Eakly FFA, was there with her goat. It was great to get to know these students and learn about their livestock projects that they have worked hard on all year to prepare for their local shows, and ultimately OYE.

Family estrangement doesn’t skip a generation

DEAR HARRIETTE: My mother has always expressed frustration with her immediate family, specifically her parents and her sister. She moved away from them as soon as she turned 18. As I was growing up, my mother used to tell me how important it was for her to keep her distance from them for her own mental wellbeing. Now that I’m all grown up, I’ve started to recognize a similar dynamic between my mother and sister — one that reminds me of my mother’s family. How can I preserve a sense of balance and connection in our relationship without allowing their behavior to affect me in an undesirable way? I don’t want to push my mom and sister away the way my mother pushed her family away. — Breaking the Cycle DEAR BREAKING THE CYCLE:

CLINTON’S HISTORY 10, 20, 30 AND 40 YEARS AGO

At a Freedom Celebration ’93 meeting, volunteers paused during their discussion of fund-raising progress for the Christian outreach for a photo. Shown were Steve Richardson, Steve Weichel, Carol Laufer, Joye Richardson and Gayle Janning.

How a faithful Catholic in Congress turned into a heretic

As a veteran Chicagoland Democrat, Rep. Daniel Lipinski knew what to expect when facing newspaper editors during pre-election endorsement season -- hard questions about his support for centuries of Catholic teachings on abortion.

Six adults were killed March 9, 2023, in Hamburg, Germany, in what police described as a 'rampage' after an evening religious service. Several others were wounded during the attack at a Jehovah's Witness center, called a Kingdom Hall, including a woman who lost her pregnancy. The suspected shooter was reported to be a former member of the religious group.

Boyfriend to help brother with addiction

DEAR HARRIETTE: My brother has been battling substance addiction for a while now. My boyfriend struggled with the same thing for years before I met him, and he is now completely sober, healthy and thriving. I want the same thing for my brother. The emotional and psychological toll that my brother's addiction has taken on our family is immeasurable, and I'm always looking for resources to help him. I was wondering if my current partner could provide some insight into his journey and be a supportive, positive presence for my brother in a way that only those who have lived through similar experiences can truly do. Could this be too big of an ask? My brother and my boyfriend do not have much of a relationship. — Desperate for Help DEAR DESPERATE FOR HELP:

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